failed install of 17.10.1 desktop

[jc]

new machine, new drive. chose to install updates during install.

usb key is known good, has worked on previous installs using the same options.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.10
Package: ubiquity 17.10.10
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-21.24-generic 4.13.13
Uname: Linux 4.13.0-21-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.7-0ubuntu3.7
Architecture: amd64
CasperVersion: 1.387
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Mon Jan 22 13:05:23 2018
LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu 17.10 "Artful Aardvark" - Release amd64 (20180105.1)
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_US.UTF-8
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 LC_NUMERIC=C.UTF-8
SourcePackage: ubiquity
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)